The Benefits of 3D Prototyping

When we think of manufacturing, we’re taken back to the days of old when a series of goods would travel along an escalator, which in turn could take a number of hours, as well as some additional manpower, to ensure the product was suitable. While there is nothing wrong with this process, the competitive nature of the business world means that more and more business owners are looking for ways to speed up the manufacturing process. Fortunately, the way technology has evolved over the last few years means that a lot of processes are now more evolved and able to offer several benefits.

One such sector that has seen a spike in popularity is the world of 3D printing, but even within the 3D printing sector that can be several processes depending on what you’re looking to achieve.

What is 3D Prototyping?

Before 3D printing was revolutionised, the designing of a product was something of a cumbersome process. However, thanks to the advancements made, it is now possible to create a product design within a matter of hours as opposed to days. As such, 3D prototyping is something that has quickly gained traction with many businesses, and can yield the following benefits.

Elaborate on Your Idea

Although many of us will have a brilliant idea, it doesn’t mean that we will be able to cover all the bases, and there will be times when just need to have some creative input from others. As you can imagine, building a prototype over and over can be very time consuming, especially if the changes being made are minimal.

However, 3D prototyping allows for a product to be printed up within a few hours, and allows all those who have creative input to harness their ideas as they are able to investigate the progress being made real time, as opposed to a computer screen.

Ensure You Don’t Overspend

Many companies can see their product fail at the first hurdle, and this isn’t always due to the product not being of a good enough quality. However, not picking up on a design fault in the initial stages can be detrimental when it comes to our cash flow, and it could be that once in production, it will cost more to rectify. That’s not to say that 3D prototyping doesn’t come with a cost, but it will be much less that trying to rectify something that has been in production for some time.

Get Feedback Before Making an Investment

When it comes to creating a product, not everyone will be confident in its success. Having access to 3D prototyping allows you to present your idea to investors and even the market in general, and allows you to take on feedback from investors and consumers before making an investment. What’s more, having the means to amend your design can put you in a more favourable position with potential investors.

This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits of 3D prototyping, and is something that you should certainly consider moving forward.